Killer hornet is a popular and threatening nickname for the Asian giant hornet, the largest hornet species on Earth. They were first discovered in the United States in 2020.
A Graham resident recently submitted the following photo to Citizen Times, wondering if it might be a “murder hornet.” And she’s not the first.
First, we were able to confirm that our photographers did not spot “murder hornets.”Matt Bertone, director of the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at North Carolina State University, told Citizen Times the photos are of European giant hornets, which are common in North Carolina.
Read on for more information about Asian giant hornets, also known as northern giant hornets and, of course, their nickname “murder hornets.”
What are murder “wasps”?
Asian giant hornets are native to Southeast Asia. They were first discovered on this side of the Pacific in 2019 on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and a year later in 2020 in the United States. “Murder Hornets”.
Here’s some information about where these insects are found in the United States, what they look like, and how they earned their killer nickname.
more:Is there a murder hornet in your yard?Here’s what to do
Why are they called “murder hornets”?
The nickname “Murder Hornet” is a misnomer. In fact, National Geographic “cancelled” the moniker in a 2022 article, explaining that aside from the public appeal of such a scary title, the main reason these insects inspire fear is simply their A painful but not fatal sting.
What happens if you get stung by a murder hornet?
Asian giant hornets can’t be accurately described by their popular murderous nicknames, but it still makes sense to want to avoid them. Their bites are described as extremely painful, like “being pricked by a red-hot needle.”
In another National Geographic article about Asian giant hornets, wasp researcher Soichi Yamane described being stung on the job.
The pain lasted for two days, and the severe pain often disrupted my sleep.
What do killer hornets look like?
According to the Washington Invasive Species Council, Asian giant hornets have yellow or orange and black stripes on their bodies and a large yellow or orange head. Their wingspan is approximately 3 inches and can grow up to 1.5 inches in length.
Sydney Crawley, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University, provided input on potentially similar species in previous Citizen-Times reporting.
People often confuse European giant hornets with Asian giant hornets because of their similar size and color. However, they are an entirely different species that has been present in the United States since 1840,” Crowley said.
Broadcom gave similar comments in an email response to Citizen Times.
“This is not the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia; mistakenly called the ‘murder hornet’ by the media), but the historic European giant hornet (Vespacrabro),” Bertone said. “The European giant hornet has been in the United States for more than 150 years. history, and very common.”
Broadcom also recommends their blog post on how to tell the difference between the European giant hornet and the northern giant hornet (also called the Asian giant hornet), as well as their page on the European giant hornet.
It’s important to remember that while the Asian giant hornet may be similar to the South, the Asian giant hornet has not yet been found in southern states and, as you’ll read below, will likely never be found.
more:Yellow-legged hornets, relatives of murder hornets, discovered in Georgia, and officials hope to eradicate them
Will murder hornets migrate to southern states?
Washington state entomologist David Crowder previously told USA Today that Asian giant hornets are likely unlikely to live in much of the United States
The likelihood of a wasp traveling across the entire country is extremely unlikely,” Crowder said. “Much of the habitat in the central United States is completely unsuitable for wasps because it’s too hot and there’s too little rainfall. So it’s nearly impossible for wasps to move across the country on their own unless humans move them.
Iris Seaton is a popular news reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times, a USA TODAY Network affiliate. Contact her at iseason@citizentimes.com.
#murder #hornets #North #CarolinaAsian #Giant #Hornet #Facts
Image Source : www.citizen-times.com